Baramulla LS polls: Militant commanders’ families cast vote, appeal their sons to shun violence, join mainstream

Waris Fayaz

Baramulla, May 20 : Amidst the ongoing polling for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections in Baramulla parliamentary constituency, families of militant commanders cast their votes, appealing to their sons to surrender.

Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) after casting his vote, Abdul Qayoom Lone, father of Lashkar-e-Toiba militant commander Abid Qayoom, a resident of Ussan Pattan, said that he and his family cast their votes for change and development.

"Voting is an individual's right and everyone must exercise his right. It paves the way for regional stability and development," Lone said.

He added that his son had joined the wrong path and must shun it and join the mainstream. "My son joined the ranks, which is wrong, and he must surrender and join the mainstream," he said in an appealing tone.

Lone, meanwhile, urged everyone, especially youth, to cast their votes and asked them not to indulge in wrong activities that lead nowhere.

In Ussan Pattan, Rouf Ahmed, brother of Omar, who is said to be a top commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba, appealed to his brother to surrender. "Let my brother join the mainstream and avoid the path he chose," he said. He asked youth to come and vote for their rights and for change for themselves and their families.

Earlier, a month ago, Omar's family appealed to their kin to surrender for the family's well-being. His aged mother could be heard appealing to her son in an emotional tone.

Similarly, the families of Bilal Ahmed Mir and Mohammed Omar, who are said to be active militants of Brath Sopore, cast their votes in their allocated polling booth at Brath. "It's our democratic right and a way for development. Casting votes is necessary, and it's going to change the scenario besides individuals at their own level," said Omar's father, Ghulam Hassan Mir.

"I urge my brother to shun the path of militancy as it is leading to nowhere. We came here to cast our votes, and we are hopeful it will change our lives," said Dawood Ahmed Mir, brother of active militant Bilal Mir.

It is pertinent to mention that the militants have been active for a long time and are involved in many militancy-related activities.